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Rams buzzing after exciting overtime win over Queen's

By Jessica Pincente

Jan 13, 2018

TORONTO - Special teams both hurt and propelled the Ryerson Rams in a matchup that saw the team overcome a two-goal deficit against the No. 8 nationally ranked Queen’s Gaels, with the Rams coming away with a 4-3 overtime victory.

The Gaels would come out strong in both the first and second period, opening the scoring six minutes into the game on their first power play goal of the matchup. Ryerson’s Emma Low-A-Chee (North York, Ont.) would retaliate for the Rams just a few minutes later, scoring her third goal of the season to tie the game at one.

The Gaels would add two more power play goals in the second period to increase their lead after 30 minutes of play. Alex Rodriguez (Toronto, Ont.) and Brooklyn Gemmill (Brampton, Ont.) would tally two goals across two periods to level the playing field for the Rams heading into the final minutes of regulation.

Ryerson would kill off a Queen’s 5-on-3 power play opportunity at the end of the third period to send the game into sudden death overtime. Head coach Lisa Haley says the late-game penalty kill gave her team an energy boost moving into OT.

“Heading into the game, we thought that special teams were going to decide the game,” said Haley. “I think it decided in our favour. Being able to kill off that three-on-five gave us a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence.”

The Rams had a look on the man-advantage in overtime but couldn’t capitalize, and it wasn’t until Ryerson’s Justine Johnson (Burnaby, B.C.) went streaking away on a two-on-one opportunity that the team would claim their 4-3 overtime victory. Johnson’s game-winning goal was her first of the season and her first in the OUA.

“Sarah [McGilvray] had passed it to me off the wall coming out of our zone,” said Johnson. “We were on a two-on-one so I had the choice to either pass or shoot - I thought shoot. So I did, and luckily it went in.”

“The team is buzzing after that win, the energy is really high,” said team captain Ailish Forfar (Sharon, Ont.). “I knew we could win that game and it just took the extra minutes to do it.”

The Rams have managed to take the OUA-best Queen’s Gaels into overtime in both their matchups this season, coming away with a crucial and exciting win in their second meeting tonight. The Rams will take on the Waterloo Warriors at home Sunday afternoon to close off their weekend homestand.